It is the Year of the Ram/Sheep/Goat/Lamb.  However you may say it, it is the same character in Chinese.  To start the Lunar New Year, "Let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!  For He is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. O that today you would hearken to his voice!" (Psalm 95:6-7).   Let us worship Him and give thanks to Him at all times, and in all circumstances.

Thanksgivings

When I counted the blessings of God in the Year of the Horse, 2002, I can only say: "But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere." II Cor. 2:14.

I thank God for giving me a very warmhearted and efficient team in the Hong Kong Free Methodist office.  We are not just colleagues, but brothers and sisters in Christ, like a big family.  They are not only giving quality performance, but give it to God as a sacrifice.  We serve happily and aim at the best.  I also thank God for Christian friends in different parts of the world who are supporting me either in prayer, writing e-mails, giving, or working alongside with me.  With all these friends, I am encouraged and uplifted.

I thank God for His protection in traveling, with safe trips to Vietnam (Feb.), Cambodia (March, May, November), Japan (May), the Philippines (August), the US (October), and frequent trips to Gong Shou.  Each time I enjoy and treasure the fellowship and partnership in the gospel in the big family of Free Methodists. 

Since April 2002, I am not the senior pastor of any church, but can concentrate on being Missions Director of the Conference.  On Sundays, I call myself a "traveling" pastor, preaching in different churches on missions work and helping in Sunday School.  It takes time to adjust to not belonging to a particular church.  However, I can now reach more churches and more people for missions work.

January News

In early January I had the chance to visit Myanmar and gave a two day training class for the leaders.  They were very attentive and eager to learn.  Then I went to Bangkok for the Asia missionary retreat.  I am happy to have time to rest and have good fellowship with the other missionaries.  I was reminded by one of the speakers that I needed to train somebody who can step up to the leadership some day.  Yes, Moses had Joshua as his helper, who later took up his place to lead the Israelites into Canaan.  In view of the expansion of APFMMA, I pray to God for a "Joshua" in the future.  Like Moses, I find it quite heavy for me to carry all these responsibilities alone.

In mid-January we had a team of 13 people from US come to Hong Kong, who also went to visit the leprosy village.  The following week, we had Ann Van Valin stop over in HK for one day, and we had a very good meeting with the sponsors.  We were thankful that once HK children were sponsored by people, but now we sponsor children in many countries.  It is a blessing that we can share with people what we have.  We heard from Ann that the children in many African countries are suffering from starvation and war. 

Opportunities & Challenges

Waiting for me in the Year of Ram are many opportunities and challenges.

• Vietnam, a feasible new mission field? 
  In February 2002 during the New Year celebration for the Year of the Horse, I made the first exploratory trip to Vietnam to see the feasibility of starting ministry there.  A member of the Mission Board of the Hong Kong FMC visited two times for the same purpose.  We are waiting to see how God leads us into this country.
• Mainland China
  the rehab-leprosy people and their children and poor orphans.  These are usually abandoned people.  However, Jesus touched these people and blessed them.  As followers of Jesus, we have to follow His footsteps.  We are looking for a dorm mother/parent and supervisor for the orphanage for these abandoned children.
• 50th Anniversary of the Hong Kong Free Methodist Church in 2004 
  half a century has gone!  May God establish and bless the work of all these years.  I have to head up the planning for the 50^th Anniversary Celebration, which includes a Thanksgiving Worship service and meetings, meetings and prayer sessions for revival, a commemorative magazine, souvenirs, and other activities.  We do not want to celebrate just for the sake of celebration.  What is God's will for our churches in the coming days?  How shall the church move forward to fulfill His Great Commission and glorify His Name, and please Him?  How shall we really live in a Wesleyan way -- transforming the society and people by holy living?  I would like to request your prayer for the HK FMC and also the planning committee to be sensitive to His Word.
• 10th Anniversary of APFMMA in 2004
  I would like to quote The Bible from Romans 4:17 "God  calls into existence the things that do not exist."   That is exactly how the formation of APFMMA (Asia Pacific Free Methodist Missions Association) came about in August 1994 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.  What is the development of APFMMA in the next decade?  There is a proposal to become a missionary sending agency instead of just being a missions association.  That will be a very big step, and needs more staff and resources.  We will discuss this in the meeting in April. 
• Deficit
  This is not unusual in many churches, Christian organizations and Mission offices; and even the Government in Hong Kong last year, and the Mission Board of Hong Kong Conference.  I am very upset and a bit discouraged to see that we have to stop the Muslim and Hindu ministry because of a lack of resources.  Please pray for the Muslim and Hindu people in HK.  They need Jesus too.
• Meetings and Logistics 
  In April, after Easter there will be the Asia Regional Sitting for the US General Conference (an estimated 80 participants from different Asian countries), followed by the APFMMA meeting (about 20 participants).  Doing all kinds of logistic work is not easy, but it is our privilege to have so many pastors and church leaders coming to Hong Kong for the benefit of the church and in the advancement of His Kingdom.  As the host church, there will be a lot to do.
• Travel in this year 
  I am anticipating visiting a missionary friend in the former Soviet Union in mid May.  Their life and ministry there are very difficult.  In June to mid-July I will travel in the West Coast of the US for reports and sharing of APFMMA ministries in different churches, and also will have a display at General Conference.  It will be a very tiring trip.  I will also pay more attention to Myanmar and Vietnam.  As usual I will visit Cambodia and Mainland China frequently.

I prayed to God for a Scripture for the Year of the Ram.  On Lunar New Year¡¦s Eve, when I was reading the Bible in Deuteronomy 31, these familiar verses caught my attention:

" The LORD your God himself will go over before you, and Joshua will go over at your head. Be strong and of good courage, do not fear or be in dread of them: for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you."  Then Moses summoned Joshua, and said to him in the sight of all Israel, "Be strong and of good courage  It is the LORD who goes before you; he will be with you, he will not fail you or forsake you; do not fear or be dismayed." (Deut. 31: 1...)

Now I am praying for a "Joshua".  Moses had 40 years to train Joshua to work with him and finally Joshua succeeded him.

Prayer requests:

1. Vietnam -- a feasible new mission field ?
2. Mainland China -- looking for a dorm mother/parent and supervisor for the orphanage.
3. 50^th Anniversary of Hong Kong Free Methodist Church in 2004 -- wisdom for the planning committee
4. Revival in the churches.
5. 10^th Anniversary of APFMMA in 2004 -- wisdom for the planning
6. APFMMA -- The proposal to become a missionary sending agency instead of a missions association
7. APFMMA -- the Executive Committee and General Council Meeting in April in Hong Kong.
8. Asia Regional Sitting for the General Conference in April in Hong Kong -- Planning,  Bishop Joe James as he presides, and logistic work in HK.
9. Travel and trips this year.
10. Need of a "Joshua" for the ministry.
11. That my 83-year-old father will be in good health and abide in Jesus.
12. My church life, prayer life, ministry, and friendship evangelism.

On Lunar New Year's Eve when I was reading Deuteronomy 31, I also got these sentences when I was reading a devotional book : "Do not pray for easy roads, but pray for strength to walk through rough roads.  Do not pray for easy tasks that you can accomplish easily, but pray for strength to accomplish great tasks."    It is the LORD who goes before you; he will be with you, he will not fail you or forsake you; do not fear or be dismayed.

Have a Prosperous Year of the Ram -- spiritually, mentally and physically.

Sincerely in Christ,
Polly Ho